Raccoon facts

Did you know…
The raccoons’ name is in fact spelled two distinct ways: racoon and raccoon. It appears that it is dependent upon which side of the pond (A.K.A. the Atlantic Ocean) you’re on. Americans spell the word as raccoon, whereas the United Kingdom spells it racoon. As seen in the above statement, can be seen in Canada, United States, Mexico, Finland, Germany and Russia. In actuality they are also found in all Europe, having been introduced by the Asians. They may also be located in all of the rest of the world, each country/continent boasting its own species and subspecies.
The food chain is wide and varied. However, they also have been proven to be carried off by bigger prey predators such as owls and eagles. Sadly, the biggest threat known to raccoons is the car. In turn, raccoons feast on an assortment of foods such as berries, acorns and leaves. Did you know that they are omnivorous? If you live in the suburbs, you understand their buffet also includes garbage out of trash cans! In effect, I believe I can safely say they eat whatever they don’t deem as poisonous!
Raccoons can make about 7 unique sounds that at times can seem somewhat like a puppy, and other times more like a kitty! Perhaps those purring cat sounds you hear at night are in fact raccoons instead! This is possible as raccoons tend to be nocturnal.
They’ve hand-like paws that are good for ripping things apart, much like we could with our fingers-which is why they can partake in a meal of crawfish or crab. However, they have their limitations also. My mom once watched a raccoon reach into a pit to catch his prey. He apparently caught it, but as he tried to pull his fist from the pit, it got stuck. He fought for a while trying to get his fist out. Alas, he had to let his prey go so as to pull his hand out of the hole!
Raccoons are also sometimes seen as pets. However, as a warning, they are still considered wild animals and are feisty and unpredictable. They aren’t recommended as pets for those with young children. Furthermore, they are illegal in many regions as pets before considering this option, check with the game wardens or pet management department in your area.